Lubricant supplying device for the everting tube drive of an endoscope

Abstract

A lubricant supplying device of an endoscope everting tube drive comprises a drive tube everted at least once to thus form an outer and an inner tube portion. Inside the inner tube portion an endoscope shaft is mounted in an axially displaceable manner. In addition a drive device is provided which encompasses the drive tube everted at least once or the inner tube portion thereof so as to apply a driving force for an advancing movement of the endoscope shaft onto the inner tube portion, the drive means being in fluid connection with a lubricant supplying line and a lubricant discharge line for introducing a lubricant via the drive device into the drive tube everted at least once and/or for discharging it. The lubricant supply line and the lubricant discharge are connected to the drive device in two locations thereof diametrically opposite with respect to the endoscope shaft.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A lubricant supplying device of an endoscope everting tube drive comprising:
 a drive tube which is everted at least once so as to form an outer and an inner tube portion and having an endoscope shaft mounted therein in an axially displaceable manner, 
 a drive device which encompasses at least a portion of the drive tube, the drive device configured to exert a driving force onto the inner tube portion, thereby displacing the endoscope shaft along a longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, the drive device further being in fluid connection with a lubricant supply line and a lubricant discharge line, the lubricant supply line being connected to the drive device at a filling port, and the lubricant discharge line being connected to the drive device at an evacuation port, the filling port and the evacuation port being arranged in an approximately diametrically opposite relationship with each other about the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, and 
 wherein the drive device has a position sensor located so as to detect a position of each of the filling port and the evacuation port relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft and with regard to gravity, the position sensor emitting signals relating to the positions of the filling port and the evacuation port. 
 
     
     
       2. The lubricant supplying device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control means connected to the position sensor, the control means determining, based on signals emitted by the position sensor, the respective location of the filling port with regard to gravity and at least one of the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft or the evacuation port. 
     
     
       3. The lubricant supplying device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control means starts or admits a lubricant supplying process only if the filling port is situated below the endoscope shaft. 
     
     
       4. The lubricant supplying device according to  claim 3 , wherein the control means starts or admits a lubricant discharging process only if the evacuation port is situated below the endoscope shaft. 
     
     
       5. The lubricant supplying device according to  claim 1 , the drive device having a casing which encompasses the inner tube portion of the drive tube and to which the lubricant supply line and the lubricant discharge line are connected, at an axial end face of the casing with regard to the endoscope shaft. 
     
     
       6. An endoscope comprising:
 an endoscope shaft, 
 an everting tube drive, the everting tube drive further comprising: 
 a drive tube which is everted twice, so as to form an outer and an inner tube portion and having an endoscope shaft mounted therein in an axially displaceable manner, 
 a drive device which encompasses at least a portion of the drive tube, the drive device configured to exert a driving force onto the inner tube portion, thereby displacing the endoscope shaft along a longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, the drive device further being in fluid connection with a lubricant supply line and a lubricant discharge line, the lubricant supply line being connected to the drive device at a filling port, and the lubricant discharge line being connected to the drive device at an evacuation port, the filling port and the evacuation port being arranged in an approximately diametrically opposite relationship with each other about the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, and 
 wherein the drive device has a position sensor located so as to detect a position of each of the filling port and the evacuation port relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft and with regard to gravity, the position sensor emitting signals relating to the positions of the filling port and the evacuation port.